Follow Kitchen Contraptions on Facebook, Twitter, RSS, and Receive Our Weekly Newsletter

All of the articles we post and other fun stuff here at Kitchen Contraptions can be followed in a variety of ways. Each day we post an article here or two so make sure and visit us on the web, and weekly you can of course get our newsletter via email. You can also now follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you're using a feed reader such as Google Reader or the like make sure and use our RSS feed. So make sure and take advantage of the variety of ways you can get our Kitchen Contraptions news, and we also encourage you to visit us right here every day as well.

Thanks again for being a loyal reader, and we look forward to sharing lots of Kitchen Contraptions news in whatever format you desire.

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Zombie Toast - Bring Out the Zombie Rye Please

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Oh - did you remember to behead your bread before putting it into the bread box? If not - you're going to have to deal with some Zombie Toast. This toast in particular is actually just a harmless Etsy creation, but it shows you what can happen if toast is left unchecked. You can purchase your own zombie toast for $13.

Via Foolish Gadgets at Etsy

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Cyber Monday Deals at Kitchen Contraptions

We've got a bunch of cool deals and gift picks in our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide from Kitchen Contraptions. Also you will want to check out our 2008 and 2007 holiday shoppping guides which are filled with cool gift ideas as well.

Amazon is currently featuring Cyber Monday Deals all day long - at Cyber Monday Deals. Good luck with your holiday shopping. We'll have lot's of deals as the holiday's unfold here at Kitchen Contraptions in the coming weeks.

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DIY: Grow Your Own EDAMAME

We love some steamed edamame and a little salt, and had no idea we could grown are own. The kit comes with cute "beer glass" vase, seeds, growing medium, and wicker basket. All you need is water and a sunny window, and soon you'll be harvesting your own healthy treat. Instructions included. Made in Japan.

At Random Good Stuff at Uncommon Goods

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D’Artagnan Certified-Organic Free-Range Turkeys

We typically don't feature food to buy here at Kitchen Contraptions, but when we saw the D’Artagnan Certified-Organic Free-Range Turkey we had to feature it. D’Artagnan certified farm-raised birds are fed an all-vegetarian diet of 100% whole organic grains and pure spring water, with no protein supplements, added poultry or fish by-products, pesticides or herbicides, which for us is important - we like our meat real not unreal.

In addition, no antibiotics, growth hormones or arsenicals are administered and the birds benefit from an environment that never uses artificial light. Adherence to these principles led to Organic Certification in 1990 by the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association. The result is an amazingly tender and moist turkey with superb flavor and 25% less fat than standard, commercially raised turkeys.

Order deadline for Thanksgiving delivery is November 18.

At D’Artagnan Certified-Organic Free-Range Turkey

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Ramen Spoon and Fork

Now you can slurp up some broth and twirl some ramen all in one handy spoon meets fork kitchen utensil. This ramen spoon + folk was originally created for use at the popular sugakiya ramen noodle restaurant chains in Japan, but now you can have it at your home. The size of this spoon with folk is 7-3/4" l x 2" w and the cost is $7 per spoon meets fork.

Via Gizmodiva

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How to: What Do You Buy and Stock in Your First Kitchen

Photos by Rich Hein/Sun-Times

We're always looking for a great article and advice on what to tell first time kitchen owners to put in their kitchen. What knives do you really need? What pots and pans will give your friends kitchen envy? Well this article at the Chicago Sun Times does the trick and provides insights into these and other questions of kitchen stocking.

Some highlights include:

Knives: A chef's knife, a paring knife, a boning or utility knife and a steel. These are the essentials in order of importance, and these will take you far.
Pots and Pans: Look for pans with heft. Start with 10-inch saute pan and a three- or four-quart saucepan with a lid. Misc: A 9-by-13-inch baking pan (glass or metal) comes in handy, and not just for baked goodies (think lasagna, roast chicken).
Kitchen Gadgets:
- Tongs. They cost but a few bucks and are incredibly useful when sauteeing, grilling, flipping and so on.
- Whisk. "The most efficient way to mix, by far," Koetke says.
- Spoons. Again, super cheap. Wooden is nice because it's gentler on food than metal. And, Crumpacker says, "they feel good in your hand."
- Spatula. Another all-purpose tool. Silicone is key because you can use it for both hot and cold foods, Koetke says.
- Measuring cups/spoons. No second-guessing when trying out recipes.
- Colander/strainer. For draining pasta, a kitchen staple, rinsing and draining produce and more. Can opener. The moment you realize you don't have one is when you really need one. And then you'll smack yourself. So get one.

At How to stock your first kitchen

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Light Bites - Candles Are Forks Too You Know

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How about sinking a few forks with candles into your birthday cake instead of LAME older candles. Right after you make your birthday wish (which is most likely a wish to eat said cake) you can grab a candle and start chowing. Each kit includes 12 white fork candle holders along with 12 candles that fit into the forks. You can purchase the set for £8.00 or about $14.

Via Foolish Gadgets

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Lightsaber Chopsticks - Use The Force To Eat Sushi

Seriously - where was all this cool Star Wars stuff when I was a wee lad? Now you can eat everything in your life with mini-lightsabers, and with each subsequent meal - your force power will double. These won’t be out until 2010, but you can preorder them on the Japan version of Amazon for ¥960 or about $10.

Via Foolish Gadgets

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Follow Kitchen Contraptions on Facebook, Twitter, RSS, and Weekly Newsletter

All of the articles we post and other fun stuff here at Kitchen Contraptions can be followed in a variety of ways. Each day we post an article here or two so make sure and visit us on the web, and weekly you can of course get our newsletter via email. You can also now follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you're using a feed reader such as Google Reader or the like make sure and use our RSS feed. So make sure and take advantage of the variety of ways you can get our Kitchen Contraptions news, and we also encourage you to visit us right here every day as well.

Thanks again for being a loyal reader, and we look forward to sharing lots of Kitchen Contraptions news in whatever format you desire.

Jay Brewer at Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This |

Round Kitchen - German Kitchen Roundness

Not much more can be said except - we've found round kitchens in Germany. RoundKitchen.com has a set of brands including the Round Kitchen brand - and you can email info at roundkitchen.com for more details. We really like the look, and wish we had room here at Kitchen Contraptions to get a round kitchen of our own.

At www.roundkitchen.com

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Favorite Kitchen Tools and Gadgets - What are yours?

One of our favorites - a micro-plane lemon zester,
which is great for grating cheese too.

Kitchen Contraptions reader Ann wrote in about this amazing round-up of kitchen gadgets and tools. We have to say - it's really impressive, and we've featured many of the same gadgets here at Kitchen Contraptions.

We'd love for you to sound off in the comments on what your favorite kitchen gadgets and tools are as well.

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Top 10 Elements of Basic Kitchen Knowledge

Typically each day we feature a new kitchen contraption, but today we thought we'd pass along the Top 10 Elements of Basic Kitchen Knowledge to you our loyal readers. It's interesting to note after an informal quiz around the test kitchen, many folks here had the wrong answers for many baiscs below. Go figure. We of course scored 10 out of 10, and think these are all really solid points to know. Do you know of any others? Sound off in the comments.

1. Salt dissolves in water.

2. Salt does not dissolve in oil.

3. Oil does not dissolve in water.

4. Water boils at 100 C (212 F).

5. Generally foods contain mostly water (or another fluid).

6. Foods without water or fluid are tough.

7. Some proteins (in eggs, meat, fish) coagulate.

8. Collagen dissolves in water at temperatures higher than 55 C (131 F).

9. Dishes are dispersed systems (combinations of gas, liquid or solid ingredients transformed by cooking).

10. Some chemical processes - such as the Maillard Reaction (browning or caramelizing) - generate new flavors.

Cool stuff, and be sure to read more at the Columbia University Press.

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Black Friday Kitchen Gadget Deals at Amazon

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We couldn't pass up telling you about the deals at Amazon. You can get the Braun WK200W Aqua Express Electric Water Kettle for $25, and there's deals on mixers, bread makers, and other kitchen contraptions. We recommend pricing these out, but many of these deals are more than 50% the regular price.

At Black Friday Deals at Amazon

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